PSYC 230 – UIUC EXAM 3 STUDY GUIDE 2026
object agnosia - Answers -Inability to recognize objects using only vision.
top-down processing - Answers -a process whereby our existing knowledge of objects
influences how we perceive them
bottom-up processing - Answers -a process whereby physical stimuli influence how we
perceive them
recognition - Answers -the ability to match a presented item with an item in memory
representation - Answers -the storage and/or reconstruction of information in memory
when that information is not in use
perceptual organization - Answers -the process by which multiple objects in the
environment are grouped, allowing us to identify multiple objects in complex scenes
grouping - Answers -the process by which elements in a figure are brought together
into a common unit or object
Segregation - Answers -the process of distinguishing two objects as being distinct or
discrete
figure-ground organization - Answers -the experience viewers have as to which part of
an image is in front and which part of an image is in the background of a particular
scene
Gestalt Psychology - Answers -In terms of vision, gestalt argues that what we see is
greater than its individual parts. That is, the process of perception are designed to see
the scene rather that bits of light here and there. Stimuli were sufficiently rich in
structure to allow the perceptual system to extract meaning directly from the stimuli
rather than building it up from an image of thought. The whole is different from the sum
of its parts.
How symmetry and convexity affect figure-ground organization - Answers -Symmetry:
images that are more likely to be seen as figure and therefore in the foreground,
whereas less symmetrical images are more likely to be perceived as background
Convexity:
Images with convex borders are more likely to be seen as figure, whereas those with
concave borders are more likely to be seen as ground. (stevens and brookes 1988)
, law of good continuation - Answers -grouping law stating that edges that are smooth
are more likely to be seen as continuous than edges that have abrupt or sharp angles
law of proximity - Answers -grouping law stating that elements that are close together
tend to be perceived as a unified group
law of similarity - Answers -grouping law stating that elements that are similar to one
another tend to be perceived as a unified group
Law of Symmetry - Answers -grouping law stating that elements that are symmetrical to
each other tend be be perceived as a unified group
perceptual interpolation - Answers -the process by which the visual system fills in
hidden edges and surfaces in order to represent the entirety of a partially visible object
edge completion - Answers -the perception of a physically absent but inferred edge,
allowing us to complete the perception of a partially hidden object
illusory contours - Answers -perceptual edges that exist because of edge completion
but are not actually physically present
recognition by components - Answers -a theory stating that object recognition occurs
by representing each object as a combination of basic units (geons) that make up that
object; we recognize an object by the relation of its geons
Geons - Answers -the basic units of objects, consisting of simple shapes such as
cylinders and pyramids
viewpoint invariance - Answers -the perception that an object does not change when an
observer sees the object from a new vantage point
template theories - Answers -theories of pattern recognition which assert that there is a
mental representation for each of the patterns to be recognized
Area V4 - Answers -an area of the brain involved in both color vision and shape
perception
inferotemporal area - Answers -the area of the temporal lobe involved in object
perception; it receives input from V4 and other areas in the occipital lobe
fusiform face area - Answers -an area in the inferotemporal area of the temporal lobe
that specializes in recognizing familiar faces; located in the ventral surface of the
temporal lobe
object agnosia - Answers -Inability to recognize objects using only vision.
top-down processing - Answers -a process whereby our existing knowledge of objects
influences how we perceive them
bottom-up processing - Answers -a process whereby physical stimuli influence how we
perceive them
recognition - Answers -the ability to match a presented item with an item in memory
representation - Answers -the storage and/or reconstruction of information in memory
when that information is not in use
perceptual organization - Answers -the process by which multiple objects in the
environment are grouped, allowing us to identify multiple objects in complex scenes
grouping - Answers -the process by which elements in a figure are brought together
into a common unit or object
Segregation - Answers -the process of distinguishing two objects as being distinct or
discrete
figure-ground organization - Answers -the experience viewers have as to which part of
an image is in front and which part of an image is in the background of a particular
scene
Gestalt Psychology - Answers -In terms of vision, gestalt argues that what we see is
greater than its individual parts. That is, the process of perception are designed to see
the scene rather that bits of light here and there. Stimuli were sufficiently rich in
structure to allow the perceptual system to extract meaning directly from the stimuli
rather than building it up from an image of thought. The whole is different from the sum
of its parts.
How symmetry and convexity affect figure-ground organization - Answers -Symmetry:
images that are more likely to be seen as figure and therefore in the foreground,
whereas less symmetrical images are more likely to be perceived as background
Convexity:
Images with convex borders are more likely to be seen as figure, whereas those with
concave borders are more likely to be seen as ground. (stevens and brookes 1988)
, law of good continuation - Answers -grouping law stating that edges that are smooth
are more likely to be seen as continuous than edges that have abrupt or sharp angles
law of proximity - Answers -grouping law stating that elements that are close together
tend to be perceived as a unified group
law of similarity - Answers -grouping law stating that elements that are similar to one
another tend to be perceived as a unified group
Law of Symmetry - Answers -grouping law stating that elements that are symmetrical to
each other tend be be perceived as a unified group
perceptual interpolation - Answers -the process by which the visual system fills in
hidden edges and surfaces in order to represent the entirety of a partially visible object
edge completion - Answers -the perception of a physically absent but inferred edge,
allowing us to complete the perception of a partially hidden object
illusory contours - Answers -perceptual edges that exist because of edge completion
but are not actually physically present
recognition by components - Answers -a theory stating that object recognition occurs
by representing each object as a combination of basic units (geons) that make up that
object; we recognize an object by the relation of its geons
Geons - Answers -the basic units of objects, consisting of simple shapes such as
cylinders and pyramids
viewpoint invariance - Answers -the perception that an object does not change when an
observer sees the object from a new vantage point
template theories - Answers -theories of pattern recognition which assert that there is a
mental representation for each of the patterns to be recognized
Area V4 - Answers -an area of the brain involved in both color vision and shape
perception
inferotemporal area - Answers -the area of the temporal lobe involved in object
perception; it receives input from V4 and other areas in the occipital lobe
fusiform face area - Answers -an area in the inferotemporal area of the temporal lobe
that specializes in recognizing familiar faces; located in the ventral surface of the
temporal lobe
